Software · head to head
Linear vs Shortcut
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Linear no task-level Gantt chart; Timeline view is available for projects only, not individual issues; Shortcut limited reporting compared to Jira
- They diverge on capability: Linear covers Fast, real-time sync, Shortcut covers Stories & epics.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Linear and Shortcut actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Linear
- Fast, real-time sync
- Keyboard-first design
- Automatic issue tracking
- Cycles (sprints)
- Projects & milestones
- Custom workflows
- Built-in roadmaps
- Discord
Only in Shortcut
- Stories & epics
- Iterations (sprints)
- Kanban boards
- Roadmaps
- Reporting
- Docs
- Mobile apps
- Datadog
Both cover
- API & webhooks
- GitHub
- GitLab
- Slack
- Figma
- Sentry
- Zapier
- SOC2
- GDPR
- 2FA
- SSO
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Linear
- Issue management and triage, converting customer feedback into prioritized issuesnot Shortcut
- Strategic planning via initiatives, roadmaps, and PRDs from idea to launchnot Shortcut
- Agent-assisted development, with agents drafting docs and submitting pull requestsnot Shortcut
- Code review with structural diffs for human and agent outputnot Shortcut
- Progress monitoring via dashboards tracking cycle times and project healthnot Shortcut
Shortcut
- Sprint planningnot Linear
- Bug trackingnot Linear
- Feature developmentnot Linear
- Product roadmappingnot Linear
- Team collaborationnot Linear
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Linear
- No task-level Gantt chart; Timeline view is available for projects only, not individual issues
- No native time-tracking or hour-logging feature
- No native Linux desktop app; official FAQ states it 'may come in the future but it's not on the roadmap for now'
- Free tier capped at 250 issues and 2 teams
Shortcut
- Limited reporting compared to Jira
- Designed specifically for software teams, not general project management
- Can experience slow loading times with very large projects
Pricing, plan by plan
Linear
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited members
- 2 teams
- 250 issues
- Basic$10/month
- 5 teams
- Unlimited issues
- Unlimited file uploads
- Business$16/month
- Unlimited teams
- Private teams/guests
- Triage Intelligence
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- SAML/SCIM
- Granular admin controls
- Invoice/PO billing
Shortcut
Free- FreeFree
- Kanban boards
- Sprints
- Roadmaps
- Team$8.5/user/month
- Unlimited users
- Advanced reports
- WIP limits
- Business$12/user/month
- Unlimited workspaces
- OKRs
- Advanced custom fields
- Enterprise$null/custom
- Volume discounts
- SSO/SCIM
- Premier support
Which should you pick?
Choose Linear if
- You need fast, real-time sync.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- You also want keyboard-first design.
Choose Shortcut if
- You need stories & epics.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
- You also want iterations (sprints).
Questions people ask
- Is Linear or Shortcut better?
- Neither clearly leads. Linear starts at Free and Shortcut at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Linear or Shortcut?
- Linear starts at Free and Shortcut at Free.
- Does Linear or Shortcut run on more platforms?
- Linear runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Shortcut runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
- Can I use Linear for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Linear best used for?
- Linear is most often used for issue management and triage, converting customer feedback into prioritized issues, strategic planning via initiatives, roadmaps, and prds from idea to launch, agent-assisted development, with agents drafting docs and submitting pull requests, code review with structural diffs for human and agent output. Of those, issue management and triage, converting customer feedback into prioritized issues and strategic planning via initiatives, roadmaps, and prds from idea to launch are not what Shortcut is typically brought in for.
- What can Linear do that Shortcut cannot?
- Linear covers Fast, real-time sync, Keyboard-first design, Automatic issue tracking, Cycles (sprints). Shortcut covers Stories & epics, Iterations (sprints), Kanban boards, Roadmaps. Both handle API & webhooks, GitHub, GitLab, Slack.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Shortcut: Does Shortcut have a free plan?
Yes, Shortcut offers a free plan for up to 10 users with core features like kanban boards, roadmaps, sprints, and reports. Paid plans start at $8.50 per user per month.
SourceShortcut: Does Shortcut integrate with GitHub?
Yes, Shortcut has native GitHub integration that automatically syncs pull requests and commits to stories, and includes GitLab and Bitbucket support as well.
SourceShortcut: Can I use Shortcut for non-technical projects?
Shortcut is built for software teams, though you can customize workflows for other use cases. Linear and Asana may be better suited for non-technical project management.
SourceShortcut: Does Shortcut support SSO and SCIM?
Yes, SSO and SCIM support are available on the Enterprise plan, allowing centralized identity management for large organizations.
SourceShortcut: What's the difference between Shortcut and Jira?
Shortcut is lighter and faster with less setup required, while Jira offers deeper customization and enterprise features. Shortcut works better for modern software teams wanting simplicity; Jira suits enterprises needing extensive configuration.
Source